Staff Accountant

State-of-Maine; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 2,907,000 - 4,058,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

The State of Maine is seeking a professional in Augusta to apply GAAP and GASB standards to maintain complex governmental accounts. You will reconcile credit card and insurance accounts, support stop payments and ACH, and ensure internal controls across multiple fund types and reporting periods.

You will interact with program staff, prepare financial reports for statewide statements, and monitor budgets while applying accounting theory to improve processes and results.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of GAAP, GASB, and accounting terminology.
• Understanding governmental accounting standards and systems.
• Experience with computerized accounting systems.
• Proficiency with standard desktop software and tools.
• Ability to identify and correct accounting errors.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and oversees accounting procedures and internal controls for asset and liability accounts, revenue and expense accounts, and equity accounts to ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and procedures.
• Reconciles accounts and subsystems to the general ledger and identifies system weaknesses.
• Prepares agency financial reports, notes, and disclosures for state financial statements.
• Produces cash forecasts, revenue estimates, and expenditure projections for planning purposes.
• Explains accounting policies to program staff and resolves discrepancies or disputes.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

GASB knowledge

Accounting principles

Financial reporting

Communication skills

Education

Accounting degree

Business administration

Financial planning

Budgeting

Tools

Accounting software

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State..Office of the State TreasurerOpening Date: September 29, 2026Closing Date: October 13, 2026Grade / Admin Unit: 20 / Professional/Technical ServicesJob Class Code: 0329Salary: $21.09 - $29.46*/Hourly (*includes a 2% recruitment and retention stipend)Position Number: 076000229Location: AugustaCurrently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.DESCRIPTION:This is professional services work involving the application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidelines in maintaining complex accounts within established accounting systems. These complex accounts characteristically have (1) multiple fund types, revenue sources, cost centers, and cost allocations; (2) multiple levels of controlling regulations; and (3) overlapping reporting periods. Employees in this classification are responsible for ensuring assigned accounts are managed in accordance with GAAP/GASB standards, state/agency accounting procedures, and appropriate internal controls. This position is responsible for reconciliation of the State of Maine credit card account, quarterly reconciliation of the Bureau of Insurance account, and provided backup support on stop payments and ACH. Employees use and apply accounting skills at the full proficiency level to analyze and resolve nonstandard accounting transactions and independently initiate appropriate corrections into accounting records. Employees interact with programmatic staff to explain accounting policies and procedures or resolve accounting discrepancies and disputes. This classification is distinguished from that of Accounting Technician by the technical complexity of work in maintaining complex accounts and increased responsibility for (1) identifying problematic processes and procedures within accounting systems and (2) developing, recommending, and implementing corrective actions to resolve problems. Supervision may be exercised over paraprofessional accounting personnel and office support/clerical staff. Work is performed under limited supervision.REPRESENTATIVETASKS:Establishes and oversees accounting procedures and internal controls for asset and liability accounts, revenue and expense accounts, and equity accounts to ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and standard operating procedures.Applies accounting theory to account for revenues, expenditures, transfers, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and inventory in accordance with GAAP/GASB to accurately report the results of agency operations.Verifies source documents for accuracy, completeness, authorization, and coding, as well as proper application of fees, refunds, collections, and discounts to verify general ledger balances, reconcile subsystems to the general ledger, and identify accounting system problems or weaknesses.Reviews financial transactions and applies accounting theory and principles to ensure compliance with GAAP/GASB and applicable laws, rules, policies, and procedures.Reconciles accounts, initiates corrective actions, and formulates and recommends system and process changes through evaluation, analysis of problems and application of accounting theory to eliminate future problems.Prepares agency financial reports including information for the statewide financial report and prepares portions of required annual financial statements and related notes and disclosures to communicate relevant financial information to concerned parties.Prepares cash forecasts, revenue estimates, and expenditure projections for planning purposes to support budgetary and program staff.Monitors budget balances, identifies issues, and formulates corrective actions to inform and support program and accounting managers.Confers with financial and program staff to explain accounting policy and processes and resolve accounting discrepancies or disputes associated with account balances and reconciliations, reporting clarifications, payment authorizations, expenditures, and budget balances.KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:Knowledge of generally accepted accounting theories, principles, methods, practices, and terminology.Knowledge of governmental accounting standards and systems.Knowledge of computerized accounting systems.Knowledge of standardized desktop technology and products.Ability to apply accounting principles in locating and correcting accounting errors.Ability to apply accepted accounting principles to income statements and balance sheets.Ability to verify fiscal source documents and application of fees, refunds, collections, and discounts.Ability to prepare narrative and statistical reports and financial statements, projections, and schedules, and analyze and interpret information from reports.Ability to review fiscal transactions for conformity with applicable laws, rules, policies, and procedures.Ability to communicate effectively.Ability to write clearly and effectively.Ability to recommend improvements in accounting controls, financial review trails, and business practices.Ability to function effectively as a member of a project team.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Education, training, and/or experience in accounting, business administration, financial planning, budgeting, or another related field demonstrating competency in analyzing data and records, interpreting policies, rules, and laws, identifying process and procedure deficiencies, and developing practical solutions.APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:Please submit a cover letter along with a current resume and three (3) professional references.In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes the month and year for any relevant experience listed. Your resume should include the duties and responsibilities associated with each position. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such.CONTACT INFORMATION: For more information or questions specific to the position, please contact [e-mail] selected candidate will be required to pass the required background checks (fingerprinting may be required) as a condition of employment.Benefits of working for the State of Maine:No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—\"Dirigo\" or \"I lead\"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements .Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office .Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave . Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act .Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package , covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness .Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.Thinking about applying?Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart..If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.